Online check in?

[cinderellasmom]

I received an email from Disney asking me if I wanted to begin check in online? We arrive next Tuesday and I was wondering what this was. Do I get to request specific room assignment? Is there a benefit when I arrive at the hotel? Thanks!

 

[soarin_over_nj]

When you arrive at your hotel, there will be two lines. One for those checking regularly and another for those who have checked in online.

With checking in online, you can leave your credit card for charging, and make a room request.

The benefit is that when you check in, your welcome packet including keys, is waiting for you.

 

[nkereina]

You do not get to request a room assignment during online check in. You should call reservations to add your room request on your reservation before doing online check in.

The benefit to online check in is that your packet is made up for you and you can use the separate online check in line at the front desk, which is usually shorter and faster than the standard check in line.

In my experience when I've used online check in, my room is almost always ready but does not meet my room requests. The impression I got from a front desk CM was that they try to place online check in people in rooms that will be ready, which is why they ask for your approximate arrival time when you do online check in. We did not get our room request when doing online check in, so IMO, they would rather place you in a room that is ready when you arrive than a room that isn't ready but grants you your request. So if you add room requests, it's my recommendation to not do online check in.

 

[dansdad]

We just got back from a 7 night stay at CBR. I used online check-in because we were going to be getting to the resort around Noon, well before official check-in at 3:00PM, and wanted to get into our room. Just for giggles, I called reservations 5 days before arrival and made 2 room requests. To our surprise, when we checked in at Noon our room was ready and BOTH requests were met. CBR was full during our stay too. So, it can happen that you get your requests.